Daniel d



(No Model.)

D.. D. MAYFIELD.

GATE.

No. 444,158. Patented Jan. 6,-1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE.

A Y DANIEL D. MAYFIELD, OF SULLIVAN, INDIANA.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,158, dated January6, 1891.

' Application filed October 18, 1890- Serial No.368,574 (No model.)

" .To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL D. MAYFIELD, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Sullivan, in the county of Sullivan and ,Stateof Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereintothe accompanying drawings.

My invention, relates to improvements in gates, and the leading objectof my invention is the provision of a gate which may be readily openedand closed by a person upon horseback or in a vehicle with ease andfacility.

" Afurther object of my invention is the pro vision of a gate of thecharacter mentioned which will be of very simple and durable con-".struction, which will be thoroughly efficient in operatiorf, and whichcan be produced at a small cost, thus rendering the gate practical anduseful.

To attain the desired objects the invention consists of a gateconstructed substantially as herein illustrated, described, andspecifically defined by the claims.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a gate constructed inaccordance with and embodying my invention, the parts being in theposition they assume when the gate is closed, and a part of thestructure being broken away to disclose details. Fig. 2 represents anelevation of my gate,.the parts being in the position they assume whenthe gate is open. Fig. 3 represents a detail.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates one ofthe gate-posts, and the numeral 2 designates the other gate post, set ata suitable distance apart, and to the gate-post 2 is hinged or swung thegate 3. The gate in this instance consists of a series of parallelhorizontal rails, end and middle posts, and inclined brace-rails, asshown; but other constructions of gates maybe employed, if desired.

At a suitable distance from the gate-post 2 is set the road-post 4t, andthe road and gate posts are connected by a rail or bar 5, the purpose ofwhich will appear.

The drop-bar consists of the sections or parts 6 and 6 which are hingedtogether at 7, the inner end of the section 6 being connected at 8 tothe gate and the lower end of section 6 being pivoted or hinged at 9 tothe short post or upright 10. The section 6 is provided on its upperface with a recess or socket 11, in which is located the bar or pin 12,adapted to be engaged by the latch 13, pivoted in the bifurcated innerend of .a piece or block 14, secured to the section 6 for looking thesections.

Thelatch 13 is of peculiar construction, and is provided with a lug 13adapted to enter a socket 13 in the piece or block 14, and around thelug l3 is placed a coiled spring 15 for causing the latch to engage withthe pin 12 and retaining it normally in engagement therewith.

To the outer end of'the latch 13 is connected the operating cord orchain 16, which passes over the pulleys 17 and 17*, for opening andclosing the gate from one side, and the cord or chain 18, which passesover the pulleys 19 and 19*, for opening and closing the gate from theother side, and to keep the cords taut at all times and preventthem frombecoming tangled I attach staples orhandles 20 to their free ends.

To or near the inner end of the section 6 of the drop-barI attach oneend of a short chain or cord 21, the other end of which is connected tothe'inner end of the latch 22, pivoted to a bar 23, secured to the gateand having its outer end adapted to engage with the keeper 24c, and thechain or cord 21 passes over a pulley 25, journaled in a hanger orbracket 26, secured to a plate 27 on the gate, as clearly shown, thebracket being swiveled in the plate to allow the pulley to accommodateitself to the movement of the chain.

As I have now fully described the construction and arrangement of theparts of my improved gate, I will give a brief description of the mannerof'operating it.

The gate is in its normal or closed position, as shown in Fig.1, and ifit is desired to open the same one of the operating cords or chains isdrawn upon. This acts upon the latch carried by the drop-bar, unlocksthe sections of said bar, which in its normal position has both itssections in line, and at the same operation acts on the gate-latch andreleases the same from the keeper, and then causes the sect-ions of thedrop-bar to approach each other, thus effecting the opening of the gate,the weight of the bar acting as a counter-balance thereto. \Vhen it isdesired to close the gate, the other cord is drawn upon, causing thesections of the bar to return to their normal position and closing thegate. It will be seen that when either of the cords is drawn it breaksthe joint of the bar and partially folds the sections, and when theother cord is drawn upon the sections of the bar are returned to theirnormal position, thus effecting the opening and closing of the gate, andit will also be seen that the dead-center of the gate is passed withoutdifficulty by the weight and momentum of the parts. The gate-latch ispivoted near its inner end, so that it will ride easily upon the keeperwhen the gate is closed and engage the same; but when the chainconnected to the inner end thereof is drawn upward by the raising of theinner section of the drop-bar the latch will be re leased.

My improved gate possesses many advantages over gates heretofore used,which will be readily understood and appreciated by all skilled in suchmatters.

I dispense entirely with springs to assist in opening the gate, and theconstruction is so very simple that it is almost impossible for the gateto get out of order.

The gate cannot be opened by stock running againstit or striking againstthe dropbar, as said bar is always firmly locked.

The simplicity, durability, cheapness, and efliciency of my gate arecalculated to commend it as thoroughly practical and useful.

I claim as my inveution 1. The combination, with a gate, of a twopartflexibly-connected drop-bar connected to the gate, a lock for securingthe two sections, and cords or chains for releasing the lock, breakingthe joint of the sections, and effecting the opening and closing of thegate.

2. The combination of a gate, a two-part drop-bar having the innersection or part connected to the gate, the outer part pivoted to asuitable support, a latch for normally locking the sections, and cordsor chains connected to the latch for releasing the same and operatingthe drop-bar to open and close the gate.

3. The combination of a gate, a two-part flexibly-connected drop-barhaving one end connected to the gate and the other end connected to asuitable support, a latch pivoted on the gate, a chain connected to theinner end of the latch and the inner end of one section of the drop-bar,a swiveled guide-pulley secured to the gate for guiding the chain, andoperating cords or chains connected to the drop-bar and operating toopen and close the gate.

4. In a gate, the combination of the gate proper, the latch pivoted tothe gate, the keeper for the latch, the chain connected to the inner endof the latch, the guide-pulley for said chain, the sectional drop-barhaving its inner end connected to the gate and its outer end pivoted toa suitable support, said chain being also connected to the inner sectionof said bar, the latch for locking the sections of the drop-bar, and thecords or chains connected to said latch for releasing the latch andoperating the bar to open and close the ate. a 5. In a gate, thecombination of the gate proper, the sectional drop-bar connected at itsinner end to the gate and having its outer end suitably secured, the pinor keeper carried by the inner section of the drop-bar, the bifurcatedpiece or block carried by the outer section, the latch pivoted in thebifurcated end of the block and having the lug adapted to enter a socketin the block, the spring coiled around said lug, and the cords connectedto the latch for releasing the same and operating the drop-bar to openand close the gate.

In testimony whe eof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL D. MAYFIELD.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. ALLISON, JAMES W. IIINKLE.

